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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55867</law_id><section_number>58.1-202</section_number><catch_line>General powers and duties of Tax Commissioner</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="58.1">Taxation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Taxes Administered by the Department of Taxation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Department of Taxation</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In addition to the powers conferred and the duties imposed elsewhere by <span class="dictionary">law</span> upon the <span class="dictionary">Tax Commissioner</span>, he shall:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Supervise the administration of the tax <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth, insofar as they relate to taxable state subjects and assessments thereon, with a view to ascertaining the best methods of reaching all such property, of effecting <span class="dictionary">equitable</span> assessments and of avoiding conflicts and duplication of taxation of the same property. <a id="paragraph-204637" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Recommend to the Governor and the General Assembly measures to promote uniform assessments, just rates and harmony and cooperation among all officials connected with the revenue system of the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-204638" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Exercise general supervision over all commissioners of the revenue so far as the duties of such officers pertain to state revenues, and confer with, instruct and advise all such officers in the performance of their duties to the extent stated. <a id="paragraph-204639" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Investigate at any time the assessment and collection of state taxes in any county or city and when the assessment is found unreasonable and unjust take steps to correct the same in the manner provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-204640" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Institute proceedings by <span class="dictionary">motion</span> in writing in the proper <span class="dictionary">court</span> for the removal or suspension of commissioners of the revenue for incompetency, neglect or other official misconduct and <span class="dictionary">order</span> the Comptroller to withhold compensation from any commissioner of the revenue who fails to comply with any <span class="dictionary">law</span> governing the duties or any lawful instruction of the <span class="dictionary">Tax Commissioner</span>, until such commissioner of the revenue complies with such <span class="dictionary">law</span> or instruction. <a id="paragraph-204641" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Provide commissioners of the revenue with information and assistance in the assessment of personal property, including the maintenance of a reference library and the conduct of instructional programs. <a id="paragraph-204642" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Prescribe the forms of books, <span class="dictionary">schedules</span> and blanks to be used in the assessment and collection of state taxes and call for and prescribe the forms of such statistical reports, notices and other papers as he may deem necessary to the proper administration of the <span class="dictionary">law</span>, and prescribe and install uniform systems to be used by assessing officials. <a id="paragraph-204643" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Direct such proceedings, actions and <span class="dictionary">prosecutions</span> to be instituted as may be needful to enforce the revenue <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth and call on the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> or other proper officer to <span class="dictionary">prosecute</span> such actions and proceedings. <a id="paragraph-204644" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Intervene, by <span class="dictionary">petition</span> or otherwise, whenever deemed advisable in any action or proceeding pending in any <span class="dictionary">court</span> wherein the constitutionality or construction of any state tax or revenue <span class="dictionary">statute</span> or the validity of any state tax is in question. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> wherein such action or proceeding is pending may, by <span class="dictionary">order</span> entered therein, make the <span class="dictionary">Tax Commissioner</span> a <span class="dictionary">party</span> thereto whenever deemed necessary. <a id="paragraph-204645" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Upon request by any local governing body, local board of equalization or any ten citizens and <span class="dictionary">taxpayers</span> of the locality, render advisory aid and assistance to such board in the matter of equalizing the assessments of real estate and tangible personal property as among property owners of the locality. <a id="paragraph-204646" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> Annually make available to every county and city and, where appropriate, towns, a general reassessment procedures manual which provides the legal requirements for conducting general reassessments, and guidelines suggesting the broad range of factors in addition to market data that are appropriate for consideration in the determination of fair market value of both rural and urban land and structures. <a id="paragraph-204647" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="12"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> <span class="dictionary">Issue</span> an annual report to the members of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Finance, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations detailing procedures used in the collections process and how the Virginia <span class="dictionary">Taxpayer</span> Bill of Rights (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Virginia Taxpayer Bill of Rights" href="/58.1-1845/">58.1-1845</a>) is implemented to assist with such collections. <a id="paragraph-204648" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="13"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> Ensure that employees of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> are not paid, evaluated, or promoted on the basis of the amount of assessments or collections from <span class="dictionary">taxpayers</span>. <a id="paragraph-204649" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="14"><p><span class="prefix-number">14.</span> <span class="dictionary">Issue</span> an annual report to the members of the General Assembly and post such report on the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>&#x2019;s website that details the total amount of corporate income tax relief provided in the Commonwealth during the second preceding tax year. The report shall (i) include the total dollar amount of income tax subtractions, deductions, exclusions, and exemptions claimed cumulatively by corporations; (ii) identify all tax credits claimed; (iii) provide an analysis of the fiscal impact of the corporate tax relief; and (iv) provide summary information regarding the types of <span class="dictionary">taxpayers</span> who claim the tax relief. The report shall also provide information on the number of companies that have qualified for the major business facility job tax credit established under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Major business facility job tax credit" href="/58.1-439/">58.1-439</a> and the amount of such credits. The report shall be submitted by October 1 of each year. <a id="paragraph-204650" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#14"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="15"><p><span class="prefix-number">15.</span> Obtain information from each income tax <span class="dictionary">taxpayer</span> as to whether the <span class="dictionary">taxpayer</span> claimed a federal earned income tax credit and the amount claimed, unless such information can be calculated based on other information in the <span class="dictionary">taxpayer</span>&#x2019;s return. <a id="paragraph-204651" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-202/#15"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 58-33, 58-33.4; 1980, c. 744; 1983, c. 304; 1984, c. 675; 1996, c. 634; 2005, c. 216; 2006, cc. 159, 590; 2009, c. 24; 2010, c. 379.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
